Annapolis Music Therapy

Goal-oriented and relationship-based music therapy services across the lifespan.

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Community Drumming at Argo Counseling: Acquiring Healing, Wisdom, and Relaxation

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On Saturday, February 8th, I attended a drum circle offered at Argo Counseling and Wellness. As a new intern, I was unsure what to expect, so I set up the drums and awaited the arrival of participants. To everyone’s surprise, the group ended up being composed entirely of women. While some arrived as friends, others walked into the room and saw no familiar faces. The women in this group were unique in beautiful ways. Crossing multiple generations, decades, and life statuses, one may wonder how a diverse group can put aside differences and work together. Honestly, there’s no way to explain how music creates this instant bond amongst complete strangers, but it does. There was a feeling of openness, honesty, acceptance and respect within the room, equally spread amongst the amazing ladies surrounding me.

When looking at drums, you can easily group them together based on their appearance. Drums with feet vs. drums without feet or any stand, drums with and without animal skin heads, drums with and without cracks or tears. Like each of the people in the room, the drums placed before us had unique histories. The warmth and love of our minds and hands made the group able to take these seemingly unrelated things – drums, strangers, and  auxiliary percussive items – and unify them in an effortless manner.

Throughout the drum circle, different women shared their life experiences and resolutions. Spanning from the coming year all the way out to the coming decade, some had measurable goals to accomplish and others simply wanted to find more peace and love within their life. Amanda, the lead music therapist during this drum circle, challenged the group members to come up with one word to summarize their resolutions. Of the range of words shared, the group improvised based on the words “Healing,” “Wisdom,” and “Relaxation.” The introduction of new instruments created unique layers and impressions for each keyword, but the silent communication amongst group members guided everyone to a different place. The unique experiences we were all feeling were due to a common sound, a shared space. Reflecting aloud on our feelings and takeaways after each small improvisation led to support and agreement from others, as well as inquiry and a desire for more knowledge. 

Beginning internship meant completely flipping my life around. In a time when I felt unsure and uneasy, these women helped rein me in and remind me that I am strong, capable, and smart enough to accomplish my life (or year-long) goals. For anyone looking for an accepting, welcoming and humbling experience where you can connect with others without fear of judgment, please consider joining us for our future drum circles at Argo Counseling and Wellness. These events are free, open to all, and an opportunity to have an amazing time with great people!

-Ritchie Young, Music Therapy Intern at Annapolis Music Therapy Services

Stay tuned for free registration details for our next FREE drum circle on April 18th centered on growth and change!

Sneak a peek inside our February drum circle below:

Community Drumming at Argo Counseling

We were so moved by the connection, empowerment, and community-building that happened at our recent drum circle at Argo Counseling. The power of music to bring strangers together is a beautiful thing to experience!Learn more about our music therapy programs at Argo: https://argocounselingandwellness.com/integrative-wellness-services/bodywork-2/

Posted by Annapolis Music Therapy on Tuesday, February 11, 2020

2020 Goals: Find Your Rhythm, Find Your Intention

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Many of us identify the new year with optimism, as a means to reflect on our goals, priorities, and values. However, the process of trying to achieve these goals can be stressful, challenging, and overwhelming. Accepting these emotions as part of the process can help ground us in the reality of change, and working through these emotions opens up possibilities to achieve the goals that we set out to accomplish.

Here are 3 tips that may help you achieve your new year’s goals:

  • Keep it simple. See if you can summarize your overall goal with a one-word intention, and create experiences surrounding that one word.
  • Allow yourself to trip up. One of my favorite mantras, famously from Voltaire, is ‘don’t let perfect be the enemy of the good.’ Know that it is okay to stray away from your path to your goal. Be patient with yourself, and allow any mistakes to be a learning experience. Mistakes are what make us human, and it is great fuel for creative expression.
  • Engage in active creative experiences that help to solidify your intentions. Create a vision board, write a journal entry, or be around people who will support you in achieving your goals.

To add to the third tip, I hope that you can join us in a community drumming experience to reflect on your intentions for the new year, where you will:

  • Engage in nonverbal emotional release as a means to create space for growth
  • Connect with other like-minded individuals in a supportive space as you share your goals for the year
  • Start off the new year by engaging in an overall enjoyable, transcending experience.

Join us at Argo Counseling and Wellness on Saturday January 18 from 12-1:30 to start the new year to the beat of your own drum. All ages welcome.

Click here to register for free!

Amanda Rosado, MMT, MT-BC is a board-certified music therapist with a passion for serving individuals with emotional needs. Learn more about Amanda and music therapy services at Argo!

3 Reasons to Attend Music Makers Camp

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AMT’s creative arts summer camp is BACK for the 4th year in a row, and we’re thrilled to offer sessions in June (6/24-6/28) & August (8/19-8/23) this summer. Our inclusive summer camps center around a core theme for the week and are designed for children ages 6-12. Learn what makes our Music Makers Camp different from other programs–other than the fact that it’s just an absolute blast for campers & therapists alike!

  1. We’re the only area camp led by board certified music therapists. This year, our camp program is led by Zoe Levine, MT-BC, an absolutely amazing school-based music therapist. She’ll be assisted by college music therapy interns, music therapy students from nearby universities, and high school students preparing to pursue a degree in music therapy. Our staff receives training from our team of music therapists, and are here because they truly love children and believe in our camp philosophy. Each MT-BC or MT-BC in training will be paired with a child to provide 1:1 support throughout the camp week.
  2. Our camp is truly inclusive. We welcome campers ages 6-12 with a range of abilities, but we also love having neurotypical siblings and friends join us for the week! Our music therapists love adapting interventions to meet the needs of all campers, and approach planning with each camper’s unique personalities in mind.
  3. Your child will be immersed in creative arts experiences. Each day, campers will have the opportunity to engage in music therapy groups, art projects, movement activities, and self-regulation interventions. Every experience is designed with developmental and educational goals in mind, and center on daily themes to promote understanding.

We’d love to talk with you soon to see if our Music Makers Camp is a good fit for your child. Limited spaces remain in our June & August groups, so don’t wait to register!

Learn more & register for camp.

Spring 2019 Grants for Music Therapy!

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‘Tis the season for grant funding in Anne Arundel County! We highly encourage our families to apply for these two excellent opportunities that can help offset the cost of music therapy services and/or adapted music lessons at Annapolis Music Therapy.

  1. Rise for Autism Family Grant Program. Have we told you lately how much we love our friends at Rise? Grants of up to $500 are available to kids and adults on the spectrum to assist in accessing therapeutic, educational, medical, and respite services. 25% of grant funding is reserved for applicants over the age of 18 (YAS!), and the remaining 75% for individuals under age 18 (DOUBLE YAS!). Applications are due May 31st, 2019.
  2. LISS Funding. The Developmental Disabilities Administration’s Low Intensity Support Services (LISS) provides up to $2,000 in funding to eligible children and adults for therapeutic services and other needs. LISS funding is awarded through a random selection process, so we HIGHLY encourage families to apply again in Round 2 if they don’t receive funding on their first try. Round 1 applications will be accepted from May 1st-June 30th, 2019.

AMT is happy to support you through the application process, which includes creating invoices to include with funding applications and providing you with additional information as needed.

E-mail us at admin@annapolismusictherapy.com so we can answer your questions and help you get your applications in today!

All About AMT’s Intergenerational Groups

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Have you heard about our unique intergenerational music programs in Anne Arundel County? We are proud to offer the area’s ONLY intergenerational music classes led by board certified music therapists, and love bringing our youngest & wisest generations together through music experiences. But what is an IG group, anyway?

When you and your little one come to an intergenerational music group, you will…

  • Meet new grandfriends. Nothing lights up an independent or assisted living facility like a room full of adorable kiddos! The grandfriends we serve love giving high 5s, sharing stories, and singing songs with you.
  • Play instruments. Our groups also incorporate high quality instruments, like drums, shakers, rhythm sticks, and more. Often, we work together with our grandfriends to play these instruments, which makes it WAY more fun.
  • Shake your groove thing. We love to dance, dance, dance! Our music therapists bring movement props galore, from scarves to stretchy bands, and will lead you through action songs incorporating finger play, freestyle dancing, and sign language.

Hope to move, groove, and grow new friendships with you at one of our 4 intergenerational music groups in Severna Park, Annapolis, and Edgewater very soon!

Are you a family interested in attending one of our free intergenerational groups?   Save your spot here.

Are you a facility interested in hosting an intergenerational group? E-mail us at admin@annapolismusictherapy.com today!

3 Reasons to Bring Your Child to Music Class

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We’re totally jazzed about our thriving family music classes, and could talk all day about the benefits of music engagement for little ones of all ages! We believe it’s never too early to expose your child to music, and here are just a few reasons why you should join us for family music classes this March.

  1. Bonding time. Music class isn’t just for your little one; it’s a chance for you to cuddle, play, and deepen your relationship through music, as well as to connect with other local parents! We create opportunities for parent-child bonding every session through movement, instrument sharing, and individualized songs that you can bring straight home to sing in the car, at bedtime, and when you’re feeling snuggly.
  2. Social development. Every music class at AMT embeds opportunities for social engagement appropriate for littles ones, including self-awareness, peer interaction, sharing, and waiting. We love singing children’s names in songs, taking turns to play a *really* cool instrument, and working together to play a gathering drum or move as a group with a stretchy band.
  3. Language development. Music is a fun and engaging way to develop language & communication skills, even for our tiniest class attendees! Each class includes varied learning opportunities, from baby sign language, counting, and vocabulary expansion to promoting early literacy skills through singable books.

We’d love to invite you to join us on Monday & Wednesday mornings this March for our next session of family music classes! Learn more and register here.

New Program in Annapolis: Musical Autist Troupe!

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We’re so incredibly excited to connect our AMT families with Musical Autist Troupe: a NEW, exciting program hosted by our non-profit partner, The Musical Autist!

Led by a Board Certified Music Therapist, this inclusive group of school-aged children with and without disabilities will have the opportunity to build relationships while working toward performance opportunities. Previous music skills are a benefit, though not required. Mentor Musicians, ranging from high school/college interns to local performing artists, volunteer their time and musical expertise to help the Troupe rehearse and sound amazing!

Each week, time is spent together doing Song Shares, which can be either recorded (Spotify, YouTube, etc) or a piece that is performed live for the group. Participants and volunteers will explore and rehearse several songs that will be performed in spring events that are facilitated by The Musical Autist nonprofit, including Open Mic Nights in the Maryland Hall Cafe, Empowerment Jam Sessions, and TMA’s spring 2019 Sensory Friendly Concert at Peabody Conservatory!

Click here for low-cost registration & additional information about Musical Autist Troupe.

Check out Troupe’s recent performance:

Hear what group members LOVE about Troupe:

Learn more and register here!

Spring 2018 Grant Opportunities: Apply Now!

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Annapolis Music Therapy is proud to accept grant funding from many of our fabulous community partners! Don’t miss this opportunity to apply for funding that can be used for music therapy sessions, adapted lessons, and our summer camps.

Rise for Autism: Now accepting applications until May 31st, 2018. Maximum funding is $500 per family and can be used for therapies, services, and supports. Click here for the application.

Arc of the Central Chesapeake Region’s Family Fund: Now accepting applications on a rolling basis for children under age 21. Must be a member to apply. Click here for the application.

#MTAdvocacy Month, Part 2: What’s Your Advocacy Song?

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Hello everyone! My name is Zoe Levine, and I’m Annapolis Music Therapy’s new intern. It’s my turn to tackle the #MTAdvocacy challenge and decide what my music therapy advocacy anthem is. I honestly had a hard time picking, because there are so many things that go into advocacy. You could pick a song like “I’ve Got the Music In Me” by The Kiki Dee Band that’s upbeat and about how wonderful music is and its potential to completely affect a person, which is what I’m always trying to communicate when I advocate. Every time I excitedly start telling someone in a related health profession about cool new MT research or I talk to the person stuck next to me on the plane about all the amazing clients success stories I’ve seen, it always comes back to music’s power to create change.

However, I don’t think that encompasses the entire advocacy experience. Songs like “Fight Song” by Rachel Platton are also relevant. There are times when advocates are turned away and it can feel like you’re just a “tiny boat in an ocean.” The song talks about being in too deep and not caring if anyone else believes in you. It’s the semi-combative anthem a tired advocate sometimes needs.

I went through quite a few options for my #MTAdvocacy song, but I finally settled on “Conqueror” by Estelle. The song’s verses are subdued and sober and feature lyrics about making mistakes, having a vision that no one else sees, and people cutting you out of conversations. The verses are then balanced by a big, powerful chorus about standing up, being a conqueror, and not accepting defeat. Estelle’s song is all about accepting challenges and rallying to pursue your vision, which for me includes a world where everyone has access to music therapy.

Yours,

Zoe Levine

January is Music Therapy Social Media Advocacy Month.

AMT is participating by selecting and sharing songs that serve as advocacy anthems for our profession.

#MTadvocacy Month: What’s Your Advocacy Song?

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January is Music Therapy Social Media Advocacy Month, and this year we are selecting and sharing songs that could serve as an advocacy song for our profession. Before choosing my song, I wanted to consider the American Music Therapy Association’s definition of an advocate. In their words, “a successful advocate is someone with passion and commitment to an idea, who tells a convincing story expressing their beliefs and passion.” With this in mind, I selected the song “Sing” originally by My Chemical Romance as my advocacy song of choice.

I believe the song showcases a passion for singing out in any circumstance, despite any adversity that may stand in the way. Music therapists similarly need to speak out to anyone who will listen to further inform the world about our profession. While music therapy has been an established, credentialed profession for many decades, many people still have not heard of music therapy or the many benefits it can provide. Through advocacy efforts, music therapists can continue to educate their communities and increase accessibility to music therapy services.

The chorus of the song mentions singing for all (the boys, the girls, the Deaf, the blind, to name a few). As music therapists, we should “sing” for, and more importantly, sing with, those who may have difficulty standing up for themselves. We advocate not only for our profession, but for the rights of our clients. Another stand-out section of the song comes in the second verse, where the band sings, “You’ve got to make the choice if the music drowns you out. And raise your voice every single time they try and shut your mouth.” Music therapists have to carry on with our advocacy efforts even when other professions, legislation, or members of the community may try to silence our words. Music therapists must persevere to continually speak up for the importance and validity of our profession.

I think “Sing” encapsulates this overall sentiment of standing up for your beliefs quite well. “Sing” was also covered on the hit show Glee, which provides a pop-style arrangement that further popularized the song. My Chemical Romance gives the song an alternative rock feel, and the intensity of the emotion behind the lyrics really shines through. I encourage you to listen to the full song from the link below!

Yours,

Valerie Kamen, Senior Intern